COMPARING CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTION OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA AND HYALURONIC ACID AMONG PATIENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Dr. Burhan Zafar*, Dr. Jazirah Rehmat, Dr. Javeria Ali, Wardah Rehmat and Waqas Khan

ABSTRACT

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is considered among the common articular diseases. The modern therapeutic methods including the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are responsible for stimulating the healing process of cartilages and improve the damage. Moreover, increase in the incidence of osteoarthritis has forced to conduct this study by assessing long-term impact of intra-articular injection of PRP and Hamon quality of life of the patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Purpose: The main aim of this study is to compare the clinical and biological impact of PRP and HA among patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. Methods: The study is based on randomized control trial by recruiting 54 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. The patients were divided into 2 groups with 26 patients in each group. Group I (PRP injections) PRP intraarticular injections; whereas, group II was administered HA injections. The patients were evaluated before receiving treatment and 6 months after receiving the desired treatment. The results were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: The results have shown reduction in pain among both the groups after 6 months of receiving treatment. PRP injections proved to be more effective among the patients with lower grades of osteoarthritis. The VAS scored improved by 50% from its initial value for the group of patients who were administered PRP injections after 3 months of receiving treatment. However, these results were obtained among the patients administered HA injections after a period of 6 months. However, both the treatment modalities improved the knee pain without any statistically significant difference between them. Conclusion: As compared to HA injection, PRP injection was more effective in improving pain after final filtration among the lower grades of osteoarthritis patients.

Keywords: Intra-articular Injection, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Hyaluronic Acid, Knee Osteoarthritis.